STEPHEN  IBo  WEEKS 

CLASS  0F1886;PH.D.  THE  JOHNS  HOPKiNS  UNIVERSITY 

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UNCLE  SAM 


UNCLE  SAM 


By 
MARTHA   S.  GIELOW 

Author  of**  Old  Andy  the  Moonshiner,^'' 

"  Mammfs  Reminiscences  ,"*  "  Old 

Plantation  Days,^^  etc. 


New  York        Chicago        Toronto 

Fleming      H.     Revell     Company 

London  and  Edinb.urgh 


Copyright,  19 13,  by 
FLEMING  H.  REVELL  COMPANY 


New  York:  158  Fifth  Avenue 
Chicago:  125  North  Wabash  Ave. 
Toronto:  25  Richmond  Street,  W. 
London:  21  Paternoster  Square 
Edinburgh:      100    Princes    Street 


Dedicated  to 

"  The  First  Young  Angel 

of  the  White  House  " 


Ox 


Contents 

I.  "  You  Hain't  no  Revenue?"       .      9 

II.  A  New  Department  of  Agricul- 

ture         24 

111..    "  Wash'n'ton-dee-cee"        .        .    41 
IV.    The  Runaway  Twins   .        .        -55 


I     \ 


Illustrations 


PAGE 

"Hit  'pears  like  them  mountings  air  set- 
tin'  jes'  zackly  in  the  way  to  keep  out 
the  looks  o'  the  worl'  beyan'  "  .   Frontispiece 

**Top  o'  the  ridge — thar  hain't  no  gittin'  down 
much  when  ye  git  up  "      .  .  .  .13 

Pushing  through  this  wonderful  country,    .    .    . 
to  the  creek  bed  below       .  .  .  •23 

'*  1  'low  Uncle  Sam  will  be  powerful  glad  to 
see  we-uns "    .         ,         .         .         .         •     3^ 


9 


I 

"YOU  HAIN'T  NO  REVENUE?" 

WILLIAM  VINCENT  drew  a 
long  breath  as  he  reached  the 
top  of  the  hill.  Resting  on 
his  surveying  instruments  he  looked  out 
upon  the  view  beyond  with  a  gaze  of 
admiration  and  contemplation. 

"  Great  luck ! "  he  exclaimed,  breaking 
the  silence  that  enfolded  him ;  **  great 
luck  !  There's  a  cabin  in  the  nick  of  time 
to  save  my  life." 

Lifting  the  instruments,  the  young  sur- 
veyor started  towards  the  one  room,  win- 
dowless  cabin  so  typical  of  the  scattered 
homes  in  these  Appalachian  vastnesses. 

An   old   man,  working  in   his   rocky, 

hillside    patch,    laid    down    his   wooden 

grub-hoe    and    waited    to    receive    the 

stranger. 

11 


12  UNCLE  SAM 

"  Howdy.  I  'lows  ye  be  from  the 
level  ?  " 

**  Good-afternoon/'  replied  Vincent 
heartily.  *'  Yes,  it  certainly  is  more  level 
where  I  came  from.  Fm  a  surveyor 
looking  into  the  geology  of  these  rock 
beds  ;  my  name  is  Vincent — William 
Vincent." 

"  Wal,  my  name  air  Jo  Douglas, 
though  I'm  called  jes'  Uncle  Jonah. 
Won't  you-uns  come  in  and  go  bye  with 
me  ?    Thar's  ther  gourd." 

Putting    down    his    instrument,    Vin- 
cent,   lifting   from    the    peg    the    long- 
handled  vegetable  dipper,  took  a  drink. 
*'  Fine     water,    Mr.     Douglas,"   he     r^ 
marked. 

"  Jes'  Uncle  Jonah,  ef  you  please,"  the 
old  man  replied ;  **  hit  sounds  more 
nat'ral  and  friendly  in  these  parts." 

"  Well,  Uncle  Jonah,  then,"  the  young 
man  responded  pleasantly.  "  By  Jove  I 
I  never  had  such  a  pull  up  a  hill.     This 


a, 

3 


V 

c 

V 


C 

o 


be 

o 


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o 


^^  YOU  HAIN'T  NO  EE VENUE  !'^    13 

must  be  the  highest  spur  on  the  ridge,  is 
it  not  ?  " 

*'  Wal,  jes'  erbout — thar  hain't  no 
gittin'  down  much  when  you  git  up,  and 
no  gittin'  up  much  when  you  onct  git 
down." 

**  How  did  you  ever  come  to  settle  so 
far  up  and  out  of  the  world,  Uncle 
Jonah  ? " 

**  Don'  know,  stranger ;  jes'  found 
myself  here,  I  reckin,  an'  jes'  stayed. 
Thar  comes  maw,"  pointing  a  rough, 
knotted  finger  towards  a  woman  slowly 
climbing  the  hill  on  the  other  side  of  the 
cabin,  her  arms  loaded  with  wood  for  the 
supper  fire.  Dropping  the  armful  of  wood 
inside  the  cabin  door,  she  walked  to  the 
men. 

**  Howdy,  stranger,"  she  said 

"  Howdy,  Mrs.  Douglas,"  young  Vin- 
cent replied,  shaking  her  proffered  hand. 
"  You  came  up  that  hill  with  more  breath 
than  I  did." 


14  UNCLE  SAM 

"Jes*  Aunt  Cindy,"  she  answered; 
"that's  what  I'm  called  in  these  here 
parts,  an'  as  fer  breath — wal,  hit  takes 
breath  ter  tote  wood  up,  I  kin  tell  ye." 

"You've  got  a  fine  view  from  your 
house,  Aunt  Cindy.  It's  worth  a  fortune, 
if  you  only  know  it." 

"Wal,  it  kin  go  for  two-bits,  ef  any 
one  air  fool  enough  to  pay  for  hit,"  she 
replied.  "  I  don't  see  no  good  in  a  view, 
nowhow." 

"  My  gracious  alive.  Aunt  Cindy,  don't 
you  love  to  sit  here  and  look  out  upon 
that  wonderful  range  of  mountains,  and 
enjoy  the  grandeur  and  beauty,  and  won- 
der about  the  great  world  beyond  ?  " 

"  Settin'  and  wonderin'  hain't  gwine  to 
fetch  no  wood  up  an'  do  the  work,"  she 
said  slowly.  "And  when  I  do  git  a 
chanct  to  set  I  air  too  tired  to  think  'bout 
them  fur-off  peaks.  Hit  'pears  like  them 
mountings  air  settin'  jes'  'zacly  in  the  way 
to  keep  out  the  looks  of  the  worl'  bey  an." 


** you  HAIK'T  NO  REVENUE?''    15 

**They  do  keep  out  the  world  most 
effectively,"  he  said,  *'  and  yet  the  world 
will  reach  the  heart  of  these  mountains 
some  day,  and  they  won't  be  half  so 
beautiful  then,  stripped  of  the  timber  and 
gaping  with  mines  and  quarries.  You 
have  a  fine  place  for  apples  over  there 
on  that  slope.  Uncle  Jonah.  Why  don't 
you  set  out  some  trees  and  grow  fruit?" 

"  Wal,  I  don't  know  'zacly." 

"  You  might  apply  to  your  Uncle  Sam ; 
he  would  give  you  some  slips  to  experi- 
ment with." 

"  My  Uncle  who  ? "  asked  the  as- 
tonished backwoodsman. 

*'  Your  Uncle  Sam,"  replied  Vincent. 

"  Never  heerd  I  had  no  relations  of  that 
name,"  the  old  man  said  thoughtfully; 
*'  leas ta ways  not  in  these  here  parts. 
But  then  I  never  know'd  how  many 
brothers  thar  war  on  my  mother's  side. 
How'd  you  come  to  hear  'bout  him  ?  " 

Vincent  was  in  agony  lest  his  inward 


16  UNCLE  SAM 

amusement  should  become  visible  to  the 
old  man.  That  there  could  be  a  comer 
of  the  nation  so  shut  in  as  not  to  know 
the  meaning  of  Uncle  Sam  seemed  un- 
believable. Without  meaning  to  take 
advantage  of  the  old  man's  ignorance  he 
felt  impelled  to  see  how  far  the  sim- 
plicity showing  itself  would  yield  quaint 
expression. 

"Why,  I  think  he  would  be  glad  to 
send  you  some  young  trees,"  he  an- 
swered evasively ;  "  and  a  peck  of  good 
seed-corn  would  be  a  fine  investment  on 
that  lower  slope  over  there,  where  those 
measly  nubbins  grow.  Why  don't  you 
plant  melons,  squash,  onions  and  peas, 
as  well  as  collards  and  white  potatoes  ?  " 

"  Hain't  never  seen  none  in  these  here 
parts,"  came  the  answer. 

"  'Pon  my  word  I  Well,  Uncle  Sam 
must  send  you  some  seed  and  apple 
slips.     I  will  see  that  he  does." 

"What's   thet?   what's  thet?"  Uncle 


' '  YOU  HAIN'  T  NO  REVENUE  r  ^    17 

Jonah  exclaimed,  drawing  nearer  the 
young  man.  **  You  'low  to  see  Uncle 
Sam  ?  How'd  you  know  he  could  spar' 
them  thar  things  ?  " 

**  Oh,  he  can  spare  them  all  right,  and 
some  flowers  would  add  greatly  to  the 
beauty  of  this  yard  of  rocks,  though  I 
must  say  the  wild  flowers  are  gorgeous, 
only  no  perfume.  What  kind  of  flowers 
do  you  like  best.  Aunt  Cindy  ?  " 

Aunt  Cindy  was  busy  in  the  cabin  get- 
ting supper,  but  hearing  the  question 
replied:  **Wal,  we-uns  jes'  gits  the  kind 
they  fetch  in  bags  at  the  Forks." 

"  Oh,  I  mean  flowers,  flowers  that 
bloom,  Aunt  Cindy, — heliotrope,  gerani- 
ums, petunias  and  mignonette.  I  haven't 
seen  a  cultivated  flower  of  fragrance  in 
these  mountains,  and  wonder  why  you  , 

people   don't    grow   them.     What    kind  : 

would  you  like  to  have  ? "     Aunt  Cindy  - 

stared  in  silence  and  made  no  attempt  to 
reply  to  the  question  she  failed  to  grasp.  I 


18  "UNCLE  SAM 

"  By  Jove !  This  is  a  shut-in  com- 
munity with  a  shut-in  mentality,"  he 
sighed. 

He  explained  the  names  he  had  men- 
tioned, and  the  fragrance  and  beauty  that 
would  grow  from  seed  he  assured  her 
would  be  forthcoming. 

*'  But  how  can  I  get  these  seed  and 
plants  delivered?"  he  inquired  of  the 
old  man. 

**Wal,  you  jes'  git  'em  to  the  Forks, 
and  we-uns  kin  git  old  Buck  and  haul 
'em  up  the  mounting,"  Uncle  Jonah  an- 
swered. **  But  I  hain't  sure  that  no  kins- 
folks of  ourn  ken  spar'  seeds  an'  slips 
both ;  but  you  ken  jes'  tell  Uncle  Sam, 
ef  you  see  him,  hit  would  be  powerful 
'commodation  ef  he  ken." 

**  I  think  he  can,  and  I  will  see  that  you 
get  them." 

"  Whar'd  you  say  my  Uncle  Sam  lives, 
Mister?" 

"  In  Washington,  D.  C." 


^' YOU  HAIN'T  NO  EEVENUE?''    19 

*'  Wash'n'ton-dee-cee  I  Wash'n'ton-dee- 
cee !  Wal,  that  hain't  nowhar  on  this  side 
the  Ridge,  air  hit  ?  " 

**  Well,  not  exactly ;  it  takes  a  day  and 
night  to  get  to  Washington,  D.  C,  from 
the  Forks.  It's  about  twenty  miles  from 
here  to  the  Forks,  and  about  twenty  miles 
from  the  Forks  to  Rocky  Bend,  where  I 
take  the  train.     Ever  see  a  train?" 

"  Not's  I  knows  of.     What's  hit  like  ?  " 

Vincent  gave  a  graphic  account  of  the 
railroad  train  and  engine  and  explained 
the  trip  to  the  city  to  his  interested  listen- 
ers. They,  in  turn,  told  him  of  their  lone- 
liness and  hardships.  "Ten  dead,  and 
ten  living  "  was  the  number  of  children 
they  estimated  as  having  brought  into 
existence. 

**The  five  gals  living  air  sot  up,"  the 
old  man  explained,  "and  the  boys  they 
hev  sot  up,  too ;  an'  all  of  'em  hev  mo' 
or  less  chillen.  Our  two  younges' — the 
twins — they  hev  jes'  run  erway  ergin,  an' 


20  UNCLE  SAM 

I  'low  they'll  come  erlong  back  arter  they 
gits  tired." 

"  Where  do  they  go  ?  "  asked  Vincent. 

**  Don^  know,  stranger ;  them  twins  air 
been  er-runnin'  erway  ever  since  they  be 
borned.  One's  jes'  like  t'other ;  what  one 
does,  t'other  does ;  what  one  says,  t'other 
says.     Tim  and  Jim  be  they  names." 

**  It  seems  hard  to  have  them  all  leave 
you  in  your  old  age.  Who  does  your 
plowing  ?  " 

"Wal,  the  boys  and  the  gals  both 
helps.  You  see  old  Buck — he's  the  steer 
mule — he  b' longs  to  me  an'  maw,  an'  we 
loans  him  fus  to  one  an'  then  to  the  t'other 
to  plow  they  craps,  an'  they  comes  an' 
plows  for  we-uns  fer  the  loan  o'  the  crit- 
ter. The  twins  done  a  sight  of  work,  but 
when  they  gits  ready  to  run  erway,  thar 
hain't  no  use  to  fret  and  worrit,  they  jes' 
goes." 

"  How  long  do  they  stay  ?  " 

"Wal,   they  hev  bin   gone  this  time 


*' YOU  HAIN'T  NO  REVENUE?"    21 

mighty  nigh  a  year,"  the  old  man  drawled. 
*'  Mighty  nigh  a  year." 

*'  How  do  you  calculate  time  and  keep 
figures,  Uncle  Jonah,  when  you  say  you 
can't  read  or  write  ?  " 

"  Don'  know,  stranger,  jes'  come  natu- 
ral, I  reckin,  but  I  knows  the  year  pretty 
well,  an'  I  kin  kallate  time  to  er  day. 
Thar  hain't  nobody  as  kin  cheat  me  at  a 
bargain,  and  what's  mo'n  that,  I  kin 
gin'ly  git  the  best  uv  er  trade,  I  kin  tell 
ye." 

Vincent  sat  long  in  thought  and  his 
heart  went  out  to  this  kindly  old  couple 
of  waste  product,  as  he  styled  them. 
**  Yes,  wasted  human  product,"  he  re- 
flected as  he  smoked.  The  old  man 
smoked  his  cob  pipe  in  silence,  watching 
with  interest  the  young  stranger  within 
his  gates.  Their  best  was  bestowed  upon 
the  tired  guest  with  a  kindness  that  puts 
modern  hospitality  to  shame.  **  Hit's  the 
best  we-uns  hev,"  the  mountaineer  ex- 


22  UNCLE  SA3I 

claimed,  **but  you  air  welcome."  The 
rough  meal  of  poorly  cooked  bread  and 
potatoes  was  relished  by  the  light  of  the 
pine-knot  fire.  From  under  the  one  rude 
bed  a  low  trundle  was  pulled  out,  and 
coverlets  spread  for  the  stranger  to  sleep. 
"  Ef  you  keers  fer  the  high  bed  me  and 
maw  will  take  the  tunnel,"  Uncle  Jonah 
remarked.  "That  tunnel  air  whar  the 
twins  sleeps  when  they  air  home.  All 
ten  of  'em  what's  living,  an'  the  ten  what's 
dead  hev  slep'  in  that  tunnel.  Them  thar 
kivers  war  wove  by  maw."  Aunt  Cindy 
looked  pleased  at  the  notice  given  her 
weavings,  and  explaining  as  she  spread 
them  over  the  "tunnel,"  "  This  here  kiver 
is  the  *  snail  and  the  trail '  pattron.  I  spreds 
hit  on  top  fer  the  looks.  I  don't  never 
'spec'  to  weave  no  mo'  o'  them  kivers. 
The  gals  they  hev  tuck  what  I  wove  fer 
them,  an'  the  boys  they  hev  tuck  what  I 
wove  fer  them  ;  an'  I  'lows  to  keep  these 
here  what's   on   this  tunnel  bed  fer  the 


Pushing  through  this  wonderful   country  ...  to  the  creek 

bed  below 


*^  YOU  HAIN'T  NO  REVENUE ?''    23 

twins.  Wool's  hard  to  git  these  days 
sence  we  et  up  the  sheep,  and  my  ole 
back's  done  wo'  out  same's  the  ole  lum- 
bersome  loom  settin'  out  thar  'gin  ther 
house.  I  never  'spec'  to  weave  no  mo'." 
Vincent  listened  respectfully.  With  the 
same  unaffected  simplicity  shown  by  his 
woodland  friends,  he  stretched  himself 
upon  the  low  bed  over  which  the  hand- 
woven  cover  was  so  carefully  spread. 
E^rly  the  following  morning,  saying 
good-bye,  he  started  on  his  return  to 
Washington.  Pushing  through  this  won- 
derful country,  hoping  to  find  a  trail  to 
the  creek  bed  below,  he  thought  very 
tenderly  of  the  mountain  friends  who  had 
housed  and  fed  him  overnight.  Their 
kindly  hand-shake  and  words  of  farewell 
as  he  parted  from  them  at  the  top  of  the 
hill  still  lingered.  He  had  quite  forgotten 
the  talk  of  the  previous  evening,  feeling 
momentarily  at  a  loss  when  Uncle  Jonah 
called  after  him :  '*  Don'  forgit  to  tell  my 


24  UNCLE  SAM 

Uncle  Sam,  ef  you  see  him,  how  'bleeged 
we-uns'll  be  fer  a  few  apple  slips  an'  corn 
seed,  ef  he  kin  spar*  'em." 

"  I  won't  forget,  Uncle  Jonah,"  Vincent 
called  back,  **and  will  see  that  you  get 
them."  But  to  himself  he  said,  "  There  I 
I  intended  to  explain  the  facts  to  the  old 
people  before  I  left ;  but  for  lack  of  time 
I'd  go  back  now  and  do  so."  He  spoke 
aloud,  and  the  spoken  words  set  him 
thinking  and  planning.  Reaching  the 
upright-board  shanty  of  the  Forks  occu- 
pying the  center  of  crossing  passways, 
he  explained  to  the  man  who  owned  the 
"store"  that  when  a  package  brought 
there  from  the  railroad  at  Rocky  Bend, 
which  he  would  arrange  to  have  deliv- 
ered from  that  point,  arrived,  he  wanted 
word  sent  to  Uncle  Jonah  Douglas  on 
the  Ridge.  Money  was  given  to  insure 
the  delivery  of  the  message,  and  Vincent 
went  on  his  way  to  the  station  at  Rocky 
Bend,  where  he  paid  also  in  advance  for 


''YOU  HAIN'T  NO  EE VENUE?"    25 

delivery  at  the  **  store,"  an  added  gleam 
of  sunshine  brightening  his  path  as  he 
thought  of  the  pleasure  he  would  send 
into  those  shaded  lives. 


II 

A  NEW  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE 

WILLIAM  VINCENT  turned  in 
his  report  on  arrival  at  Wash- 
ington. After  the  long  weeks 
of  tramping  over  rough  mountainsides  it 
was  good  to  be  back  among  the  comforts 
and  conveniences  of  civilized  life.  But 
somehow,  as  he  walked  to  and  from  the 
F  Street  office,  he  found  himself  sniffing 
the  air  to  catch  the  scent  of  balsam  pine, 
thinking  of  rocks,  hills  and  the  cabin  at 
which  he  had  rested.  A  visit  to  the 
Department  of  Agriculture  secured  as 
soon  as  convenient  the  apple  slips  with 
a  lot  of  seed-corn  and  garden  seed  of 
the  very  best.  With  boy-like  pleasure 
Vincent    prepared    the    package   which 

grew  into  a  large  pack.     Recalling  the 

26 


A  KETV  DEPARTMENT  27 

rude,  wooden  grub,  worn-out  axe  and 
lack  of  necessary  implements,  he  bought 
an  axe,  spade,  rake,  and  new  rope  for  the 
steer  wagon.  Like  a  mother  fixing  Santa 
Claus  for  her  first  infant,  Vincent  with 
actual  glee  arranged  the  articles  in  a 
queer  looking  bundle.  A  couple  of  new 
knives  and  forks,  two  pretty  cups  and 
saucers  were  packed,  a  bright  new  tin 
wash-basin,  towels,  toilet  soap,  and  a 
package  of  coffee,  tea  and  tobacco.  Per- 
haps a  woman  might  have  added  a  small 
mirror  and  a  few  personal  gifts,  but  the 
thought  of  the  man  was  for  the  most 
obviously  needed  in  the  isolated  cabin. 
He  chuckled  with  joy  over  sending  the 
axe,  hoe  and  rake,  wishing  he  could  have 
sent  a  plow,  a  wagon,  and  a  new  steer. 

He  confided  the  joke  about  Uncle  Sam 
to  his  sister  Lena,  regretting  that  he  had 
not  done  so  before  the  package  was 
shipped.  The  huge  bundle  of  goods  pre- 
paid  to   the   railroad   station   at   Rocky 


28  UNCLE  SAM 

Bend,  and  from  there  to  the  Forks,  was 
tagged  plainly,  "For  Mr.  Jo*  Douglas 
(Uncle  Jonah),  from  Uncle  Sam/'  Of 
course,  Vincent  expected  no  reply.  The 
express  receipt  was  security  for  delivery. 
He  pictured  to  himself  the  feelings  of  the 
old  people  when  the  gifts  should  arrive, 
wishing  it  possible  to  peep  in  upon  the 
scene. 

The  depot  agent  at  Rocky  Bend  sent 
the  package  promptly  to  the  Forks  by  a 
trusty  wagoner,  who  delivered  the  same 
to  the  storeman  who  in  turn  promptly 
sent  word  to  the  Douglas  family  that  the 
things  from  their  Uncle  Sam  had  arrived. 

Uncle  Jonah  walked  miles  to  round  up 
old  Buck,  the  steer,  to  hitch  to  the  rough 
slide  used  by  mountaineers  in  lieu  of 
a  wagon.  Young  Jonah,  the  third,  living 
nearest  the  old  people,  and  always  the 
most  available,  was  also  considered  the 
most  responsible  for  driving  Buck  twenty 
miles  to  the  Forks  and  better  qualified  for 


A  NEW  DEPAETMENT  29 

the  undertaking  than  his  old  **  dad "  or 
"  them  thar  young  uns,"  and  he  started 
before  dawn  of  that  eventful  day  with  the 
one  prized  beast  of  burden  pulling  the 
drag,  in  quest  of  the  package  from  Uncle 
Sam.  Had  Uncle  Jonah  gone  to  "  fetch  " 
the  things  it  is  doubtful  whether  they 
would  have  been  claimed,  for  so  large  a 
package  would  have  seemed  a  mistake, 
and  receiving  it,  taking  advantage  of 
some  one's  error.  But  young  Jonah,  not 
knowing  the  Hmited  amount  of  things  ex- 
pected, lifted  the  huge  pack,  gladly  placed 
it  upon  the  runner,  and  said,  "  Tell  hit 
ergin,  Mr.  Bailey "  (making  ready  to 
whip  up  the  steer  for  the  twenty  mile  re- 
turn), "  tell  hit  ergin,  ef  you  will ! " 

**  Mr.  Jo'  Douglas  (Uncle  Jonah),  from 
Uncle  Sam,"  the  storekeeper  spelled  out 
slowly.  ''  Thet's  hit  sho' !  thet's  jes'  what 
hit  says,"  he  remarked,  "  thet's  jes'  what 
hit  says." 

"  Wal,  hit's  dad,  plum  sho',  but  whar'd 


30  UNCLE  SAM 

he  git  sich  kinfolks,  Fd  like  ter  know? 
Git  up  thar,  Buck.  I'm  obleeged,  Mr. 
Bailey,  and  I'll  let  ye  know  what's  in 
thet  thar  poke  when  I  come  ergin.  Git 
up  thar,  Buck."  Buck  pulled  out  with 
slow,  laborious  movements.  Young  Jonah 
walked  beside,  holding  the  rope  and  eye- 
ing with  increasing  wonder  the  load  on 
the  drag. 

"  Wal  done  I "  he  exclaimed,  between 
the  squirts  of  tobacco  expelled  from  his 
mouth.  "Wal  done!  Would  jes'  like 
ter  know  what  ye  be." 

The  trip  down  had  been  quickly  made, 
for  twenty  miles  is  not  much  of  a  walk  or 
drive  to  a  native  of  the  mountains,  and 
young  Jonah  hardly  noticed  dangerous 
ledges  and  almost  unfordable  creeks 
which  made  the  return  trip  perilous,  es- 
pecially hard  on  the  ox  guided  up  the 
rocky  ascent  with  the  precious  load. 
Just  before  nightfall  the  rumbling  drag 
was  heard  by   Uncle  Jonah   and  Aunt 


A  NEW  DEPARTMENT  31 

Cindy,  sitting  side  by  side  waiting  for 
hours  to  hear  the  welcome  sound. 

"  Gee  thar.  Haw  thar,"  came  audibly 
over  the  hill  as  young  Jonah  encouraged 
the  ox  to  make  the  summit. 

**  Hit's  young  Jo'  plum  sho',  maw. 
What's  thet  he's  er-fetchin'  on  thet  sHde? 
Thet  hain't  no  sHps  !" 

"  Hit  looks  like  er  dead  corpse,"  whis- 
pered the  wdfe,  trembling  with  awe. 

"Wal,  hit  hain't  no  dead  corpse  nor 
no  livin'  corpse,  maw,  but,  by  my  skin  hit's 
er  powerful-lookin'  critter  what  air  hit 
might  be." 

Old  Buck  drew  near  the  cabin.  "  Thar's 
the  poke,"  young  Jonah  remarked,  point- 
ing to  the  pack  on  the  drag.  "  An'  hit 
says  on  hit,  *Mr.  Jo'  Douglas  (Uncle 
Jonah),  from  Uncle  Sam.'  Take  holt, 
will  ye?  " 

Uncle  Jonah  removed  his  hat  and 
advanced  reverently  to  the  drag,  and  with 
trembling  hands  helped  to  place  the  freight 


32  UNCLE  SAM 

carefully  as  he  would  have  placed  a  coffin 
upon  the  grass  near  the  cabin  door. 

"  I'll  jes'  take  the  beastie  on  ter  ther 
next  hill  and  fetch  my  family  while  you- 
uns  gits  off  the  bindings,"  Jonah  remarked, 
taking  up  the  frazzled  lines  and  motion- 
ing to  the  steer  to  hurry  on. 

Perhaps  angels  looked  down  and  smiled 
upon  the  joy  that  ascended  from  that 
bleak  mountain  top  to  the  blue  hills  above, 
or  it  may  be  that  the  invisible  shades  of 
Revolutionary  ancestors,  whose  bones 
were  resting  somewhere  on  the  historic 
mountainsides,  knew  and  smiled,  too,  as 
Uncle  Jonah  and  Aunt  Cindy  unbound 
and  laid  out  upon  the  grass  the  apple 
slips,  the  new  axe,  hoe,  spade,  and  the 
wonders  of  the  mysterious  bundle. 

Not  an  exclamation,  not  a  word  was 
uttered.  In  silence  each  thing  was  ex- 
amined and  laid  upon  the  grass,  the  two 
old  people  gazing  in  awe  upon  their  pos- 
sessions 


A  NEW  DEPARTMENT  33 

*'  An'  he  er-livin',  an'  we  not  er-knowin* 
hit  all  th'  time,"  whispered  Uncle  Jonah. 

"An'  to  think  of  him  er-sendin'  store 
'baccy,  too,"  Aunt  Cindy  whispered  back 
sofdy.  **  Yo'  Uncle  Sam  air  a  plum  sho' 
giver.  An'  sech  er  hoel  Them  taters 
will  sho'  run  out'n  the  patch  when  young 
Joe  gits  er-handlin'  of  hit.  Look  at  them 
cups,  now ;  how'd  he  hev  the  mind  to 
send  them,  you  reckin  ?  " 

**  Fer  to  hold  ther  coffee,  maw ;  jes* 
smell  thet  coffee  1  Think  I'll  git  up  some 
wood  and  make  er  fire  and  try  er  bit." 

**  Not  yit,  not  yit,  paw,"  the  wife  an- 
swered. *'  Young  Jonah's  gone  to  fetch 
ther  chillen  ;  hit  will  be  er  sight  fer  them 
ter  see  sech  er  pile  o'  things.  Let's  wait 
and  show  what  Uncle  Sam  hev  done  fer 
we-uns  and  then  fix  ther  coffee  ter  make 
thankful." 

The  thought  of  Vincent  had  not  oc- 
curred to  them,  so  completely  had  their 
minds  been  filled  with  the  simple  fact  that 


34  UNCLE  SAM 

the  things  had  come  from  their  Uncle 
Sam.  But  the  gratification  of  the  real 
donor  would  have  been  the  same  could 
he  have  seen  the  gathering  of  sons, 
daughters,  grandsons  and  granddaugh- 
ters from  hillsides  and  coves  far  and  near 
to  look  upon  the  gifts,  and  rejoice  over 
the  first  good  fortune  that  had  ever  bright- 
ened their  meager  lives. 

In  due  season  the  apple  trees  were  set 
out,  the  corn,  garden  seeds  and  flowers 
were  planted.  The  axe,  hoe,  rake,  and 
spade  were  used  in  turn  by  the  sons  and 
daughters.  A  new  impetus  was  given  to 
the  toilers  for  bread  in  those  rocky  fields 
and  gardens,  and  a  new  era  of  better  liv- 
ing by  better  work  was  begun.  Even  the 
steer  seemed  to  feel  the  spirit  of  pride  that 
animated  life  on  the  Ridge,  as  he  and  the 
slide  were  passed  in  turn  with  new  imple- 
ments to  the  different  families.  The  ar- 
rival of  a  new  baby  in  successive  house- 
holds took  on  the  importance  of  a  real 


A  NEW  DEPARTMENT  35 

event,  now  that  the  new  tin  basin  could 
be  taken  from  cabin  to  cabin,  with  one  of 
the  towels  and  a  cake  of  sweet-smell- 
ing soap  kept  for  those  momentous  oc- 
casions. 

"  Ef  them  twins  would  jes'  come  back,'* 
whined  Aunt  Cindy  as  she  lighted  her 
pipe  with  a  coal  for  the  evening  smoke. 
*'  Ef  they  jes'  would  come  back  !  " 

''Won't  they  shine  they  eyes  when 
they  see  that  pile  o'  wood  young  Jonah's 
done  cut  with  Uncle  Sam's  axe  I  An' 
jes'  think,  maw,  what  they'll  say  when 
they  see  we-uns  crap  o'  long-year'd 
corn ! " 

"  An'  the  yard  scraped  up  with  Uncle 
Sam's  rake,  an'  sweet-smellin'  flowers  er- 
growin'  whar  them  weeds  wuz,  an'  peas 
an'  beans  an'  all  them  newfangled  eatin' 
things  fer  ter  cook  !  'Pears  ter  me  hit's 
time  fer  jedgment  day,  we-uns  hev  got 
sich  er  lot." 

**  Wal,  yas,  an'  ther  craps  air  er  sight 


36  UNCLE  SAM 

ter  see.  Maw,  ther  workin'  o'  thet  hoe 
an^  rake  an^  spade  hev  done  er  merracle. 
Young  Jonah  he  'lows  they'll  eve'y  one 
o'  the  boys  make  'nough  o'  thet  long- 
year' d  corn  t'  sell  down  t'  ther  Forks  fer 
er  plum  sight  o'  things.  I  reckin  every 
one  o'  the  gals'll  git  some  short  sweet- 
nin'  (sugar)  an'  er  caliky  (calico)  frock. 
Ef  Uncle  Sam  jes'  know'd  what  them 
things  hev  done  fer  we-uns !  I  say,  maw," 
the  old  man  whispered  suddenly,  "let's 
go  see  Uncle  Sam  an'  tell  him  ! " 

"  Land  sakes,  paw  !  How  air  we  ter 
ever  find  him?  " 

"Why,  ter  Wash'n'ton-dee-cee !  thet's 
whar  he  lives.  Let's  pick  up  an'  go  while 
them  twins  air  erway." 

"Sakes  erlive!  Let's  light  out  sho' 
'nuff,  paw.  Let's  light  out  an'  go  sho' 
'nufi.  I  reckin  we  kin  find  Wash'n'ton-dee- 
cee  ef  you  say  so,  and  Uncle  Sam  will  be 
powerful  glad  fer  to  see  we-uns." 

"  He  sho'  will,"  Uncle  Jonah  said  with 


V 

V 
■Si 


-3 

To 


V 

o 


V 
-3 


a 
a 

■Si 

V 

o 

c 

o 


A  NEW  DEPARTMENT  37 

some  show  of  spirit,  "  and  won't  he  be 
s'prised  ter  see  his  kinfolks  walkin'  in  ? 
Mighty  s'prised  I  be  er-thinkin'." 

"  Wal,  ril  jes'  wash  out  them  breeches 
o'  yourn  what  I  wove  las'  year,  an'  patch 
up  thet  ole  coat  an'  tetch  up  my  indigo 
frock,  an'  git  up  some  aigs  an'  make  some 
risin'  bread  fer  ter  take  'long,"  Cindy 
drawled,  beginning  at  once  to  hunt  up  the 
articles  mentioned  and  to  prepare  for  the 
ourney. 

Everything  in  the  cabin  was  put  in 
order  *'  agin  the  twins  should  come,"  and 
a  stick  was  run  through  the  latch  to  indi- 
cate that  the  occupants  were  not  at  home. 
A  large  splint  basket  containing  food  and 
a  few  articles  of  clothing,  and  a  small  bas- 
ket with  a  '*  settin'  of  aigs  "  for  Uncle  Sam 
was  all  they  carried.  On  the  day  of  their 
departure  the  old  couple  rose  long  before 
the  sun.  They  stopped  to  inform  young 
Jo'  of  their  plans.  Jo'  was  dumbfounded 
at  the  news  but  made  no  objections,  in- 


38  UNCLE  SAM 

sisting,  however,  on  hitching  Buck  to  the 
sled  to  take  the  father  and  mother  as  far 
as  the  Forks. 

"  When  you-uns  comin'  back  ?  "  he  in- 
quired. 

The  old  man  replied :  "I  'lows  to  git 
back  erround  Sunday,  but  thar  hain't  no 
tellin',  Jo'.  You  jes'  tell  Sim  an'  Dan  an' 
Zeke  an'  young  Cindy  an'  Liz  an'  Bet  to 
look  out  fer  ther  twins.  I'm  'spectin'  uv 
'em  mighty  nigh  eve'y  day  now.  Tell  all 
the  child' en  good-bye.  Let's  be  er-gettin' 
naw." 

Young  Jo's  wife  and  all  his  children 
followed  the  old  folks  a  mile  or  more 
down  the  mountain,  then  with  a  hand- 
shake, returned  to  the  cabin  to  assemble 
the  Douglases  from  far  and  near  to  tell 
them  that  dad  and  maw  had  departed 
for  Wash'n'ton-dee-cee  to  see  their  Uncle 
Sam.  The  arrival  of  Uncle  Sam's  pack- 
age was  hardly  a  greater  event  than  the 
fact  that  maw  and  paw  had  gone  down 


A  NEW  DEPAETMENT  39 

the  Ridge  which  they  had  never  before 
been  known  to  leave. 

At  the  Forks  the  old  couple  were  for- 
tunate enough  to  get  a  lift  on  a  wagon 
starting  the  next  morning  for  Rocky 
Bend.  About  dusk  the  next  day  they 
alighted  stifi  and  tired  from  the  wagon, 
after  the  long,  jolting  ride.  Uncle  Jonah 
promptly  asked  for  tickets  for  "Wash'n'- 
ton-dee-cee." 

"  You  mean  Washington  city,  I  s'posen," 
the  agent  remarked  after  a  moment  of 
thought. 

"No,  sir,  Wash'n'ton-dee-cee  is  whar 
I'm  bound  fer,"  Uncle  Jonah  insisted. 
"  Wash'n'ton-dee-cee." 

*'  Wal,  hit's  all  the  same,  I  reckin,"  the 
agent  contended.  *'  Washington,  D.  C, 
and  Washington  city  air  all  one  and  the 
same  on  these  tickets.  You  want  returns, 
I  s'posen  ?  " 

'*  Wal,  yas,  we  'lows  to  return,"  the 
old   man   said  pulling  out  a  home-knit 


40                      UNCLE  SAM  j 

sock  from   his  shirt  front,  "we  'lows  to  i 

] 

return."     The  agent  selected  the  amount  j 

of  the  two  return  tickets  from  the  soiled  [ 

bills  in  the  sock.  i 

"But  fer  ther  big  crap  o*  thet  long-  | 

year'd  corn  what  come  from  Uncle  Sam  | 
last  fall,  this  old  sock  would  be  plum 

flat,"  the  mountaineer  explained.     "Thet  ' 

corn  air  a  sight  fer  sore  eyes,  Mister.  i 

Reckin  you  never  seed  none  like  hit.  j 

Jes'  look  here  I     Fm  er-takin'  this  year  to  i 
show  our  kin  what  kinder  corn  we  done 

riz  from  them  seeds.     This  here  nubbin  ! 

is  the  kind  we  riz  before  we  git  the  seed."  | 

The  agent  looked  with  interest  at  the  long  ; 

ear  and   the  nubbin,  smiling  as  he  ex-  ] 

plained  the  train  would  be  due  in  half  an  j 

hour,  and  would  reach  Washington,  D.  C,  i 

the  next  morning  about  six  o'clock.  j 

Hardly  had  the  old  folks  finished  eat-  ] 

ing  a  bite  of  supper  from  the  basket  when  ; 
the  Southern  rushed  into  the  station  with 

great  puffing  and  blowing.    Tremblingly  i 


A  NEW  DEPAETMENT  41 

they  ascended  the  steps  and  took  their 
seats  in  the  day-coach  for  the  city. 

"What  you  got  to  say  to  this  hyar 
travilin'  train,  Mrs.  Douglas  ? "  Mr. 
Douglas  asked  in  an  undertone. 

Mrs.  Douglas,  who  had  been  **jes' 
Cindy"  since  her  marriage,  and  "jes' 
Aunt  Cindy"  since  attaining  the  dig- 
nity of  a  "  gran'maw,"  replied  under 
her  breath,  "  Hit's  er-runnin'  erway,  I'm 
'feered.  Does  you  reckin  they  ken  head 
her  off,  Mr.  Douglas  ?  " 

*'  Wal,  I  don'  know.  We  hev  jes*  got 
ter  hold  on,  I  reckin." 

**  I  say,  paw,"  whispered  the  frightened 
wife,  after  a  pause. 

"Wal,  what  ye  got  on  yo'  mind,  maw?" 
he  responded,  kindly. 

"  S'posen  them  twins  never  comes 
back?"  whispered  Cindy.  "  I  feels  kinder 
like  I  wish  we-uns  hadn't  lef  the  Ridge. 
Tears  like  the  Lord  air  callin'  ter  we-uns 
ter  go  back." 


42  UNCLE  SAM 

"  Ef  you  feel  thet  way,  maw,  hit's  git- 
tin'  time  fer  ter  pray.  S'posen  we  jes' 
up  an'  ax  Him  what  ter  do.  We  air 
bound  ter  trust  Him,  you  know."  The 
old  man  stole  his  arm  around  the  bent 
shoulders  of  the  tired  woman  and  silently 
they  prayed,  unconscious  of  time  and 
unconsciously  going  to  sleep  leaning 
closely  together. 


Ill 

*'  WASH'N'TON-DEE-CEE  " 

THE  old  couple  followed  the  crowd 
from  the  train  up  the  steps  to 
the  great  white  marble  waiting- 
room,  where  they  sat  down  in  speechless 
amazement.  For  over  an  hour  they  re- 
mained looking  and  wondering.  It  was 
about  7  :  30  when  they  decided  to  venture 
forth.  An  enterprising  coloured  hack- 
man,  noticing  their  bewilderment,  imme- 
diately took  possession  of  their  big  basket 
saying,  **  Which  way,  boss ;  which  way 
you  want  to  go  ?  " 

"Why — why,  ter  our  Uncle  Sam's," 
Mr.  Douglas  replied ;  **  could  you  jes' 
p'int  ther  way  ter  whar  he  lives,  you 
reckin  ?  " 

The  darky,  with  a  broad  grin  and  a 

perfect  understanding,  replied  : 

43 


44  UNCLE  SAM 

"Does  yo'  mean  de  White  House, 
boss?  Hit's  called  Uncle  Sam's  resi- 
dence by  de  people." 

"  Wal,  now,  I  reckin  thet's  jes'  whar 
he  lives.     Ef  you'll  p'int  the  way." 

**  Yas,  sah,  you  and  de  lady  git  right 
in,  an'  I'll  drive  you  right  dah  dis 
minnit." 

"  Wal,  now,  you  air  the  most  'commo- 
datin'  critter  I  hev  ever  seen,  ef  you  air 
a  nigger,"  the  old  man  remarked  as  he 
pushed  Mrs.  Douglas  into  the  open  car- 
riage and  pulled  himself  in  after  her. 

The  darky  laughed,  climbed  to  his  seat 
after  fixing  their  baskets  inside,  cracked 
his  whip  and  started  for  the  Executive 
Mansion. 

"  Dat's  de  Capitol  over  dah  wha'  Uncle 
Sam  carries  on  de  business  of  de  na- 
tion," the  darky  called  out,  pointing  to 
the  glorious  dome  from  where  the  stars 
and  stripes  were  floating  out  upon  the 
early   morning    breeze.     **An'    dat's    de 


''  WASH'N'TON-DEE-CEE ''         45 

Liberry  of  Congress,"  he  continued,  "  an' 
de  next  red  building  we  is  comin'  to  is 
de  Pension  Office.  I  'spec'  you  is  come 
fer  ter  see  Uncle  Sam  'bout  gittin'  a  pen- 
sion, ain't  dat  so,  boss  ?  " 

Uncle  Jonah  (Mr.  Jo'  Douglas)  looked 
at  Aunt  Cindy  (Mrs.  Jo'  Douglas).  Aunt 
Cindy  looked  at  Uncle  Jonah. 

**  Ef  thet  hain't  th'  beatenes'  I "  Mr. 
Douglas  exclaimed ;  "  ef  thet  hain't 
th'  z^ery  beatenes' !  Why,  he  p'int-blank 
knows  Uncle  Sam,  an'  talks  erbout  him 
jes'  as  if  he  war  kin  ter  him  hisself,  an'  he  er 
nigger  ! "  The  rumble  of  the  wheels  over 
the  pavement  prevented  the  comment 
from  reaching  the  ears  of  the  hackman, 
who  was  speeding  through  the  streets  at 
a  rattling  rate. 

Near  the  White  House  a  stream  of 
men  and  women  were  crossing  the  Ave- 
nue on  their  way  to  the  War  and  Navy 
Department.  Among  the  crowd  was  the 
young   surveyor,  William  Vincent.     As 


46  UNCLE  SAM 

the  carriage  turned  in  at  the  White 
House  grounds  he  caught  sight  of  the 
couple.  At  first  he  could  not  believe 
his  eyes,  but  from  first  to  last  there  was 
no  mistaking  the  personalities  in  that 
open  carriage.  The  sunbonnet,  home- 
spun clothes,  big  splint  basket,  and  the 
small  one. 

"  By  all  the  mysteries  of  creation  ! "  he 
exclaimed.  "  Hello,  there !  Stop,  driver. 
By  Jove  !  Uncle  Jonah  !  Aunt  Cindy  I 
Where  on  earth  did  you  come  from  ? " 
The  negro  driver  drew  up  sharp. 

"  Why,  hit's  the  young  man  what  told 
us  erbout  Uncle  Sam  I "  Uncle  Jonah  said 
excitedly.  **  Ef  thet  hain't  luck !  Wal, 
me  and  maw  hev  come  ter  see  our  kin 
and  thank  him  fer  ther  apple  slips,  corn 
an'  all  them  things  he  sent  ter  we-uns." 

Vincent  shook  hands  with  his  friends 
in  a  state  bordering  on  acute  hysteria. 
How  on  earth  was  he  to  explain  matters 
without  hurting  the  feelings  of  these  good 


''  WASH'N'TON-DEECEE  "         47 

but  peculiar  friends?  Their  unexpected 
appearance  gave  him  such  a  shock  that 
his  whole  body  quivered  with  suppres- 
sion of  inward  amusement. 

"  We  hev  a  sample  o'  the  corn  an'  one 
o'  them  nubbins  you  laughed  at,  an'  er 
settin'  er  aigs,"  Uncle  Jonah  announced 
in  a  tone  of  honest  satisfaction. 

**  By  Jove  I  By  Jove  I "  was  all  Vincent 
could  say. 

**  Wal,  cussin'  air  powerful  expressing 
sonny,  an'  we  air  powerful  pleased  ter 
see  how  pleased  you  air  ter  see  we-uns. 
But  I  reckin  we  better  be  er-gettin'  ter 
Uncle  Sam ;  he  mout  be  leavin'  fer  ther 
patch,"  the  old  man  remarked.  Vincent, 
in  consternation,  got  in  by  the  driver, 
who  was  chuckling  with  intense  enjoy- 
ment. At  the  White  House  door  he 
hardly  waited  to  help  the  couple  alight 
before  rushing  on  ahead  to  ask  for  an 
immediate  interview  with  the  President's 
aide.    While  hurriedly  explaining  the  sit- 


48  UNCLE  SAM 

uation  to  that  courteous  officer,  well 
known  to  Mr.  Vincent,  Uncle  Jonah  and 
Aunt  Cindy  were  endeavouring  to  make 
their  way  into  the  reception  hall. 

*'Wal,  yas,"  Uncle  Jonah  explained 
most  emphatically  to  the  orderly  who 
was  trying  in  vain  to  hold  them  at  bay, 
"  I  sed  Uncle  Sam ;  we  air  come  fer  ter 
see  him." 

"  Uncle  Sam  means  the  United  States 
government— the  nation,"  the  orderly  ex- 
plained, "and  this  is  the  White  House 
where  the  President  lives." 

"  And  the  President  stands  for  Uncle 
Sam,"  remarked  a  young  woman  who 
happened  to  pass  at  that  moment  and  to 
hear  the  conversation,  *'  and  he  is  there- 
fore the  uncle  as  well  as  the  chief  of  his 
people.  I  am  sure  he  will  be  very  glad 
to  see  you  both.  Is  it  not  Uncle  Jonah 
and  Aunt  Cindy  ?  " 

With   only   a   faint   understanding  of 
what  it  all  meant,  Uncle  Jonah  stared 


*'  WASH'N' TON-DEE  CEE ''         49 

with  delight  at  the  beautiful  girl,  exclaim- 
ing: 

**  By  gosh  I  'Scuse  my  cussin*,  honey, 
but  air  you  Uncle  Sam's  gal  ?  We-uns 
air  powerful  glad  ter  see  ye.  An'  ter  think 
ye  know'd  us  at  onct." 

"  The  President  is  my  father/'  she  re- 
plied, *'  and  if  you  will  sit  here  a  moment 
I  will  go  and  bring  him." 

The  President's  young  daughter  had 
taken  in  the  situation  with  a  rare  pres- 
ence of  mind.  She  had  read  of  the  moun- 
tain people,  had  also  heard  interesting 
talks  by  the  Mountain  Mission  workers 
before  her  church  guild,  and  had  given 
some  thought  to  the  national  problem  and 
its  responsibility.  She  had  also  heard 
Vincent's  sister,  a  member  of  her  guild, 
whisper  the  story  of  the  joke  about  Uncle 
Sam.  The  young  girl  almost  collided 
with  Vincent  as  she  rushed  for  her  father. 
**  Oh  ! "  she  exclaimed,  "  this  is  Mr.  Vin- 
cent,  Lena's  brother  !    You  see  I  know 


50  UNCLE  SAM 

you,  Mr.  Vincent,  and  I  also  know  some- 
thing of  the  joke  you  have  played  on  those 
dear  old  people.  I  am  perfectly  delighted 
that  they  have  come  to  make  the  ac- 
quaintance of  'Uncle  Sam.*  It  is  the 
only  practical  joke  I  ever  approved  of. 
I  must  get  my  father.'' 

She  darted  away  to  the  breakfast-room 
and  with  rapid  tongue  told  the  astonished 
President  of  the  remarkable  situation. 
With  ready  tact,  the  President  accom- 
panied his  daughter  to  the  visitors  wait- 
ing in  the  reception  hall. 

Vincent  could  have  fallen  on  his  knees 
in  gratitude  to  the  **  first  young  lady  of 
the  land,"  or  as  he  afterwards  called  her, 
the  "first  young  angel  of  the  White 
House."  He  shook  hands  with  the  old 
couple — almost  embraced  the  officer  at  the 
door,  paid  the  hackman,  and  bounded 
away  to  call  up  his  sister  Lena,  telling 
her  the  news. 

"Come    right    in    to    breakfast,    my 


' '  WASH'  N'TOK-DEE-CEE '  ^         51 

friends,"  the  President  said  heartily, 
shaking  the  hard-crusted  hands  out- 
stretched in  response  to  his  greeting. 
"  Come  right  in  ;  I  am  sure  you  must  be 
hungry  after  your  long  trip." 

They  followed  the  President  into  the 
breakfast-room ;  seats  were  ready  and 
breakfast  served  as  they  had  never  seen 
a  meal  before  ;  made  to  feel  welcome  and 
at  ease ;  eating  with  enjoyment  delicacies 
placed  before  them ;  accepting  a  second 
cup  of  cofTee  ;  cooling  and  drinking  from 
dainty  china  saucers ;  they  did  as  they 
were  wont  at  their  own  rough  board  table 
far  away  on  the  mountain  crest. 

"This  air  plum  fine  cofTee,"  Mr.  Doug- 
las remarked,  draining  the  last  drop, — 
**  hit  'pears  like  things  air  powerful  lively 
round  heer — 'pears  like  luck  hev  drapped 
right  down  your  way,  Uncle  Sam ;  we- 
uns  never  'spected  to  find  no  sich  fixed 
up  kin." 

**  It  is  not  exactly  a  blood  kinship,"  an- 


62                       UNCLE  SAM  i 

swered  the  President,  smiling,   "only  a  ' 

national  relationship  which  I  am  sure  will  ^ 

bring  satisfaction.     I  am  sorry  to  leave,  ' 

but  my  daughter  will  explain  matters  and  ^ 

make  you  and  Aunt  Cindy  feel  at  home."  ! 

"  To  be  sho' — to  be  sho' — Uncle  Sam, 

me  and  maw  air  plum  satisfied  ;  thet's  a  ^ 

powerful  good-lookin'  gal  o'  yourn — ^jes'  \ 

er  little  bit  like  our  youngest  gal  Ret, —  j 

she  ken  tek  keer  we-uns  all  right."  ; 

As  happily  unconscious  as  Adam  and 

Eve  before  their  eyes  were  opened,  the  j 

old  couple  pushed  back  from  the  table  ! 

i 

with  increasing  ease  and  satisfaction.  | 

In  the  guest's  chamber  of  the  White  J 

House,   Uncle    Jonah   and   Aunt   Cindy  j 

would  have  felt  at  a  loss  had  it  not  been  ; 

for  that  "first  young  angel,"  who  with  ; 

delicate  tact  explained  the  mysteries  of 

the  room.  ■ 

"What's  them  long  white  things  on 

j 

ther  side  uv  ther  bed,  maw  ?  "  i 

"  Why,  them  air  night  frocks,  paw ! " 


/) 


**  WASH^N'TON-DEE-CEE  '^         53 

"What  fur?" 

"To  war  in  ther  bedl" 

"  In  ther  bed  ?  " 

"  Thet's  what  Uncle  Sam's  gal  say.  I 
'low  to  put  one  on  this  blessed  night,  an' 
what's  mo'  I  'low  to  git  in  thet  white  chiny 
wash-tub  like  she  done  tole  me." 

"  Git  in  thet  white  chiny  wash-tub  ? 
Why,  Ian'  sakes,  maw,  hain't  you  feer'd 
uv  takin'  down  ?  " 

"  Hit  hain't  no  usen  ter  git  feer'd,  paw. 
Hain't  you  'lowin'  ter  git  er  wash  ?  " 

"To  be  sho',  maw,  but  I  never  'lowed 
to  git  in.  Why,  I  hain't  been  wet  all  over 
at  one  time  since  I  war  baptized  in  ther 
creek.  I  tuck  pneumony  then,  an'  I 
hain't  been  in  ther  branch  since." 

"Wal,  I  hain't  no  Baptist,  paw,  and 
hain't  never  been  dipped,  an'  I  jes'  'lows 
hit  will  be  plum  nice  to  hev  er  wash-tub 
what  hain't  jes'  beg  enough  fer  one  foot 
at  er  time." 

"  Wal,  ef  you  don't  tek  down  with  cold 


64  UKCLE  SAM 

I  'low  to  try  hit,  mebbe.  What's  thet 
fuss,  maw?" 

"Hit's  jes'  ther  water  turnt  in,  paw." 

**  Ef  I  didn't  think  hit  war  them  water- 
falls on  the  Ridge  I  Wal,  wal  I  what'd 
young  Jo'  think  ef  he  could  heer  thet  water 
er-coming  outer  ther  wal',  and  see  thet 
white  chiny  wash-tub?" 

Lena  Vincent  had  hardly  recovered 
from  the  news  communicated  by  her 
brother  when  a  messenger  came  with  a 
note  requesting  her  presence  at  the  White 
House.  In  company  with  the  President's 
daughter,  she  had  the  great  joy  of  con- 
ducting "Uncle  Sam's"  guests  in  the 
President's  carriage  to  the  Capitol,  Li- 
brary, Army  and  Navy  Departments, 
Monument,  Art  Gallery  and  stores. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  received 
their  warmest  admiration.  Uncle  Jonah 
insisted  that  "  hit  war  mo'  use  "  than  all 
the  rest  of  the  Capitol  "  as  fer  as  he  could 
jedge." 


"  WASH'N'TON-DEE-CEE ' '         55 

The  relationship  having  been  carefully 
explained,  the  old  man  felt  a  personal  sat- 
isfaction in  knowing  that  "  Uncle  Sam, 
the  government,  war  more  powerful  than 
jes*  blood  kin  when  hit  come  to  gettin' 
seedlin'  and  sich  fer  makin'  better  craps." 

On  Sunday  these  quaint  cousins  occu- 
pied the  President's  pew  at  St.  John's 
Church,  and  all  unconscious  of  the  atten- 
tion they  attracted,  listened  to  the  organ, 
to  the  vested  choir,  and  to  the  Gospel. 

When,  with  excess  of  joy,  a  week  later 
they  were  driven  to  the  station  and  placed 
on  a  Pullman  for  the  return  trip  to  Rocky 
Bend,  Lena  Vincent  was  also  a  passenger 
on  the  train,  with  a  ticket  to  the  same 
destination.  In  the  baggage  car  was  a 
trunk  in  which  there  were  more  surprises 
for  the  "  child'en  and  gran'child'en  "  than 
any  'package  of  apple  trees  and  garden 
implements  could  contain.  A  box  hold- 
ing school-books,  slates,  blackboards  and 
maps  was  also  checked  through,  and  in 


56  UNCLE  SAM 

the  little  hand-bag  on  her  arm  Lena  Vin- 
cent carried  a  teacher's  certificate  with  a 
permit  to  start  a  school  for  the  younger 
generation  on  Douglas  Ridge.  "  Uncle 
Sam  "  had  not  been  content  with  merely 
the  agricultural  interests  of  his  mountain 
friends  in  sowing  the  seeds  of  intellectual 
development 


IV 

THE  RUNAWAY  TWINS 

WHEN  the  train  on  which  our 
friends  were  returning  reached 
Rocky  Bend,  two  tangled- 
haired,  barefoot  boys  standing  among  the 
crowd  of  idlers  at  the  station  stared  with 
amazement  as  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Douglas 
alighted. 

**  Maw !  Paw !  es  sho'  es  my  name  air 
Tim,"  exclaimed  the  first  boy. 

**  Maw  I  Paw  1  es  sho'  es  my  name  air 
Jim,"  exclaimed  the  second  boy. 

"Ther  twins!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Douglas, 
espying  the  runaways  on  the  moment. 

"  T/ier  twins  !  "  echoed  Mr.  Douglas. 

"  Wal !  whar  hev  ye  drapped  from  ?  " 

"Jes'  come,"  answered  Tim. 

"Jes'  come,"  echoed  Jim. 
**  Hit's    ther    answer  ter  ther  prayer, 

67 


58  Ul^CLE  SAM 

paw  I "  cried  the  mother,  putting  her 
trembling  arms  over  the  two  boys ;  "  hit's 
ther  answer  ter  prayer  I — praised  be  ther 
Lord, — He  hev  sure  sent  you-uns  back 
ter  mek  ther  worl'  seem  like  He  do  keer 
fer  we-uns/' 

"  Whar  yer  bin,  maw  ?  "  asked  Tim. 

**  Whar  yer  bin,  paw  ?  "  echoed  Jim. 

**Bin  ter  Wash'n'ton-dee-cee,  Tim.  Bin 
ter  Wash*n'ton-dee-cee,  Jim,  an'  sich  er 
time  as  we  hev  hed  1  Went  ter  see  our 
Uncle  Sam — not  blood  kin,  ye  know — 
jes'  national  relationship — leastways  thet's 
how  he  'splains  hit.  He  an'  ther  nation 
an'  ther  President  an'  ther  Capitol  an' 
Wash'n'ton-dee-cee  an'  ther  Department 
uv  Agy'culchy  air  jes'  one  an'  ther  same, 
an'  he  air  related  thet  way  ter  mighty 
nigh  ev'ybody  in  ther  worl'." 

The  crowd  gathered  near  to  listen. 

"  Whut's  thet  yer  air  saying,  Mr.  Doug- 
las?" asked  some  mountain  acquaintance. 

"  I  war  say  in'  thet  thar  hain't  no  use 


THE  EUNAWAY  TWINS  69 

ter  worrit  no  more  when  ev'y  man  erlive 
in  these  here  mountains  air  related  ter 
Uncle  Sam.  Why,  ef  you-uns  hed  jes* 
know'd  hit,  thar  could  er  bin  long-year' d 
corn  craps  erplenty  in  these  heer  parts 
fer  ev'y  one  uv  ye.  Why,  Uncle  Sam — 
what  air  kinfolks  to  ev'y  one  uv  ye — kin 
jes'  erbout  do  whut  he  blame  pleases. 
All  we  hez  ter  do  air  ter  jes'  go  ter  thet 
Department  uv  Agy'culchy  an'  ax  fer  jes' 
what  seeding  we-uns  wants.  Why,  Uncle 
Sam  lives  in  er  house  mighty  nigh  big 
as  Douglas  Ridge,  an'  sich  fixin's  you 
hain't  never  seed  I  Ev'ybody  in  Wash- 
'n'ton-dee-cee  works  fer  him,  an'  ev'y  man 
alive  uv  'em  gits  money.  Why,  folks, 
Uncle  Sam's  Treasury,  whar  he  keeps 
ther  money,  air  mighty  nigh  big  es  ther 
Ridge." 

"I  wants  ter  work  fer  Uncle  Sam," 
said  Tim. 

"I  wants  ter  work  fer  Uncle  Sam,'* 
said  Jim. 


60  UNCLE  SAM 

"And  so  you  shall,"  remarked  Miss 
Vincent,  whose  eyes  were  moist.  "  But 
first  we  will  go  to  the  Ridge  and  start  our 
school.  Uncle  Sam  needs  lots  of  moun- 
tain boys  to  replenish  his  ranks  of  workers 
and  soldiers." 

"  I  wants  ter  be  er  soldier  fer  Uncle 
Sam — an'  fight  fer  him,"  cried  Tim. 

"  I  wants  ter  be  er  soldier  fer  Uncle 
Sam — an'  fight  fer  him,"  echoed  Jim. 

There  was  a  great  outburst  of  hurrah- 
ing from  the  delighted  crowd  in  the 
meeting-house. 

A  wagon  was  procured  and  the  old 
couple,  with  the  twins,  and  the  "fotch 
on  "  teacher,  were  driven  in  triumph  to 
the  Forks,  where  young  Jonah  met  them 
with  old  Buck  and  the  slide.  Such  re- 
joicing was  never  known  before  on  the 
Ridge. 

Word  of  Uncle  Jonah's  return  and  his 
wonderful  news  was  "norated"  far  and 
wide  through  the  mountains,  and  he  was 


THE  EUNAWAY  TWINS  61 

called  upon  later  to  speak  on  the  "  Na- 
tional Relationship." 

Miss  Vincent  was  the  happiest  of  all — 
directing  the  building  of  the  schoolhouse 
and  a  lean-to,  for  her  own  use,  to  the 
Douglas  home.  The  twins  became  a 
power  of  strength  in  her  community 
work,  leading  the  boy  brigade  of  em- 
bryo soldiers  preparing  to  give  their 
services,  as  their  ancestors  did,  to  fight, 
bleed  and  die  for  Uncle  Sam. 


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